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WATCHMAN, Established April, ISSO.
"Be Just and Fear not-Let all the Ends thou Aims't at, be thy Country's, thy God's, and Truth's.
diteted Aug. 2,1S81.1
SUMTER, S. C., TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1882.
TH? TR?K SOUTHKON, Ks?ablLsbedVane, 1866.
Sew Series-Yoi. IL ISo. 6.
.KUisM mty Tuesday,
rrW rafi
> Waterman awi Southron " Pvt?isking
f??; -\ v Company, -
SUMTER, S. C.
Two Dollar? per annum-in advance.
. A?T**.TJtaXMSKT8.
10o? Square, first insertion..........?1 00
r BreiysalweqiientiBsertioii.......^......... 50
Contractsvfor three mouths, or longer will
be made at reduced rates.
S vAll^^ private
? interests, will be charged for as advertisements.
Obituaries and trihates'of respect wai be
charged for. ? H
Marriage notices and notices of deaths
liihtd-free. -
For "Joh work or contracts for adrer?siag
address Watchman and SorrfAron, or apply at
the Officer to K. ?rOSTEEN, ;
c^:j*sr& ,^ -BusinessManager>*
THB BSSUBB3CT?OK FLOWEB?
He folded hil hands across his breast,
Ja tosm that toils should cease, ?
Anu bis pallid face bed a look of rest
That startled them with its peace.
So wearyhad been the stress and strife,
So.chafing the trials past !
Ani nW^rBte^oofened bark his life
Was drifting away av last.
.^-Shsjp Juwl sot the heart to signal hun- .
- STM a tonco or tone?
As out to the sea, unknown and dim,
They watched as he went alone.
They knew that the pilot who held Jthe helm
Would guide to the furtberest verge,
Ncr laffer a fear .to overwhelm,
Jfcr-solfcra ware to merge.'
' And so, as they sat with"hushing breath,
? Too hardened, tooawed'to speak,
There burston the ?Heat room of death
ll A child, wi^ abashing cheek.
" - ". i - ,. ".ir.'
-HAS, seer " she'said, "it is sweet and bright}
i'-^And brimmed to the edge with dew.
I It hurried to. open its leaves last night
Ta be ready in time for you."
I Shckaew not, the darli og, what, she did, .
?. ,Aa har?h?dish tbonght she-told,
piKorwhat was the mystic meauing hid
If In that delicate cap of gold ;
m. .? .. ?
- Tor over the greening April land
^' Had broken the Easter hour,
And the ff ower she laid in the dying hand
?* Was a Resurrection Flower.-; -
-Margaret J. Preston .
PPS
IMPERIAL PARDON.
journey-^through some
ia a lew years ago, we
ed/io'prei^nce<.tO'the impe
post chaise, a private conveyance
a considerable distance, the driv?r
being-a 3ew~general?y preferred in
the East on account of their sobriety
and general trustworthiness. On the
road my companion became comma
nicative, and entered into philosophic
religions discussion-a topic of fre?
quent occurrence among these
bilingual populations. After a some?
whatdesultory harangue, be suddenly
became elicnt ana sad,, having just
uttered the* wor?sV" *If a Chassid
goes;aatray, what does' he become ?
Asnescbumed, t. e. an apostate.7
*To what-class of people s do you al
entered my heaaV b?ca?se we nave to
ptaa^he boase of one of then-I mean
?be Oiorced ones/ ?-'Forced L'; I
thought of a. religions ? sect. * 'Are
they Christians OT Jews 8>--4Neitber'
the oneuor the other,' was the reply,
4\^tmt?j^y*^?ce?ti ^ Oh> sir,, it is a
great misery ^ana a " great crime ?
,Ql^ichU(|ren at Jeast^wiiJt not,, know
jafa?xf?&f i?r>ecau*e new victims
do.uotsrise, and on ?he TOarriage of
tbesfrparties rests a curse- they re?
main sterile I Bot what am I saying ?
ratter.' a. blessing-a mercy !
SbouM thus a terrible misery be per
^'.r.Thes?ji forced people are
hipless. W?il, GodUbiows best.
I ama fooka sinner to, speak about
it.' :, No entreaty of mine would
induce my Jewish companion to afford
foitberrinformation concerning this
peculiar ^people But before the end
of our journey I beard unexpectedly
more about this Unfortunate . class of
Russian subjects. We travelled
westward ihreogh the valley of the
Dniester,^ district bat thinly peopled,
an<f reWed at ab inn on the bordera of
an extensiv^foresL^...
Amidst'tl?e ra^Iery going on in tue
principal room of. this hostelry I be*
tween guests of different nationalities,
we bad not heard the noise of wheels
which slowly moved towards the
boui?. It was a very poor convey*
ance, containing a small cask and
a basket. The young hostess arose
hastily, and approaching the owner,
said, in a whisper, tWbat. is it you
warn V A slight paleness, overspread
hirt?untenarice, "and ^stranger Still
wasibe? demeanor ;pf \ my coachman.
&rTsiri* he ?x^?imed loudly, turn?
ing towards me,' stretching out his
bands as if seeking support, or ward?
ing off - some impending danger,
is the matter?' I. rejoined,
!y. surprised ; but ba merely
his head, and stared at the new ]
"fconierv. .
He was an elderly peasant, attired
-4*4110 8?ai-garb of tte country-peo
nie ; only at a more close inspection
I noticed that he wore a fine white
shirt. Of his face I could see but lit?
tle;, it being bidden behind the broad
brim of his straw hat.
'Hostess/ be said addressing the
young, woman, 'will yon. purchase
something of rae ? I have some old
brandy^ wooden spoons and plates,
pepper-boxes, needle-cases, &c, all
made of good hard wood, and very
cheap.' jX? an !-jdmo8t; : supplicating
tone he uttered - these words very
. ' ai?wlj^' --w?i?i downcast eyes:. From
his pronunciation he appeared to be
. Poiei : r -
The hostess looked shyly up to him.
; 'You know my brother-in-law has
forbidden me to have dealings with
you/abe said hesitatingly, 'on ac
count of your wife ; but tooday bei?
.sot itt home/sp?fter a momentary
silence, turning towards the driver,
pl^bflWffli^,* -B?b^ ?foss?au; will
you betray me ? You come frequent?
ly this way/-In reply he merely
.brugged his shoulders and moved
away. Turning again with some im
|>atience>.:Ui~ the peasant, she said,
'Bring lae a dish and two spoons/
When he had gone to fetch these arti
clea, the woman once more accoste*
my coachman.
'Ton must not blame me ; they ar
very poor peopled H H ? ;
. 'Certainly they are very poor*-h
repfied in a** milder tobe. 'Durinj
life, hunger and misery, and aile
death-hett?l-:and* ail; . undeserved;!
Bot the iti?n*:'8l??dx-*?if??yri?t:''&i
utterance, with his basket in the room
The bargain was soon concluded, am
a few copeks paid. Curiosity prompl
edarnojtoTstep forward* '-and/examim
the merchandise.
'I have also cigar-cases,' said th<
peasaut, humbly raising his hat Bu
his face was farjb^jr?i&te?Mting thai
his wares. Tod rarely seej&ctt fea
tures ! However great the misery 01
earth, this pale, pair>8tricken -counte
nance^was unique injits^kind, reveal
ing yet traces of sullen defiance, anc
the glance of his eyes moved instant
ly the heart of the beholder-^a weary
almost fixed gaze, and yet full of pas
sionate mourning.
<>'YoQiare a Pole P I observed aftei
a pause.
'Yes,' he replied.
'And do you live in this neighbor
hood!'
' At the inn eight werst from here
I am the keeper.'
'And besides wood-carver V
'We most do the best we can/ wat
his reply. ' We have bat rarely an j
guest s at our house.'
'Does your hostelry lie outside the
main road V
'Ko, close to the high road, sir.
It was at one time the best inn be?
tween the Bug and the Dniester.
But now carriers do not like to stav
at. our house.'
'And'why not?'
'Because they consider it a sin
especially the Jews.' Suddenly,
with seeming uneasiness and haste,
he asked,'Will you purchase any?
thing? This box, perhaps. Upon
the lid is engraved a fine country
house.'
Attracted by! the delicate ; execu?
tion, ? inquired, 'And is this your
own workmanship?'
'Yes,' was his reply.
'You are an artist ! And pray
where did you learn wood-engrav?
ing?'
'At Kamieniec-Poddskf.'
'At the fortress ?' .
'Yes, during the insurrection of
1803.' '
' Were^you among the insurgents ?'
'No, but the authorities feared I
might join them-hence I and the oth?
er forced ones were incarcerated in
the fortress when the insurrection
broke out," and. again, set free when
it was suppressed.' "y
' Without any cause ?'
'Without the slightest. I was al?
ready at that time a crushed man.
When yet a youth the marrow of my
bones^aoTbeen po?sftnel?TrTthe mines
of Siberia. During the whole time of
my. settlement, I have been since 1858
beeper of that inn ;1 gave the authori?
ties- no; cause for suspicion, but I was
a 'forced man,' and that sufficed for
pouncing upon me.'
'Forced ! what does rt mean P.
',We|l,. a person^ forced to accept,
wHfcn toothers ?&e;/choTce >Js left
iomicile, trade orcalBng, wffe>and re
'ieiribfcM'-? exclaimed. 'And you
?abm?ttedfe^^^f?tle. s?rBe^played
aro und h?fflthm^rp?? * Qjjj -
'Are*you so much~Thoved at my
fate ? We generally bear Very easily
the most severe, pains, endured by
ethers:'
.That.; is-* ar" saying ;of Larochefou
cauld,' I said, somewhat surprised.
'Have you read him V
'I was at one time very fond - pf
French literature. But pardon my
acrimony. 1 am but little accustom?
ed to sympathy, and indeed of what
i vail would "it be to me now !' He
stared painfully at the ground, and I
also became, silent, convinced that
?ny superficial expression of sympa?
thy wouldi^nderjbe; circumstances,
t?e downright mockery . s
I $K painful ;: paus? ensued,. which tl
ivok? with foe "question, ? if he ? h-M
worked, the engraving upon the lid of
the box after a pattern.
'No, from memory/ was bis re?
joinder.
'It is a peculiar kind of architect?
ure !'
'It is like alt gentlemen's houses in
Littauen ; only the old tree is very
striking. It was a very old house.'
'fias -teen-?-' Does it exist no long?
er ?'
'It was burnt down seven years
ago by, the .Russians, after they had
5rst ransacked it. They evidently were
aot aware that they destroyed their
Jwn property, lt had been confisca?
ted years before, and had been Crown
property since 1848.'
'And have you yet the outlines of
;he building so^ firmly, - engraved on
your-memory ?* * *'?
'Of course !>ft w.is my birth-place,
which I had "rarely left until I was
eighteen years old. Such things are
lot easily forgotten. And although
nore than twenty years have passed
jince this sad affair, hardly a day
gassed on which I did not think of my
paternal home. I was aware of the
leath of my mother, and that my
;ousin was worse than dead-perhaps
I ought to have rejoiced when the old
nansion was burnt to the ground ;
jut yet I could not suppress a tear
#hen the news reached me. There
ls hardly anythiug on earth which
jan now move me.' I record literally
what the unfortunate man related.
!d"y Jewish coachman, not easily im?
pressed, had during the. conversation
;rept gradually nearer, and shuck his
lead seriously and sorrowfully.
'Excuse me, Pani Walerian/ he ;
nterrupted : upon my honour, yours ?
s a sad story !' He launched out j '
uto practical politics, and concluded j
bus: , ,
'? Pole is not as clever as I am. j
if he (the Pole) was the equal of the ]
Russian, well and good, fight it out ; <
mt the Russian is a hundred times j
itronger ; therefore, Pani Walerian, j
vhy irritate him, why confront him ?' ]
I could not help laughing at these ' [
emarks : but the poor 'forced one' j 1
emained unmoved ; and only after j <
?orne silence, he observed, turning j j
towards me :
'I have never even confronted *
Russians. I merely received
punishment of the criminal, with*
feeing one; ofventuring my all in
people's cause. I was verv ypui
when I was transported to Siberii
little more than nineteen years o
My.father-hiad^died early, j J manag
Our smalr property, arid a cousin
mine, a pretty girl, sixteen years o
lived at our house. Indeed, I had
thoughts of politics. It is true
wore the national ; costume, -perui
our poets, especially 'Mickiewicz a
Slowaski, and had on the wall of i
bedroom a portrait of Koscinszl
For such kind of high treason ev
the Russian Government would i
have crushed me in ordinary times
buUt was the? year 1848; 'Kico
P?wlow?tch' had not sworn in vi
that if the whole of Europe was
Sames, no spark should arise in 1
empire-and by streams of ;blood. a
tears, he achieved his object. When
er a young Polish noble lived w
was suspected of revolutionary tei
encies, repeated domicilliary search
were made : and if only a single pi
hibited book was found, the dread ?
went forth, 'To Siberia witl? him I'
'Io my own case it came like
thunderbolt. I was already in Sit
ria, and could not yet realize n
misery. Duri??g the whole long joi
ney I was more or less delirious,
hoped for a speedy liberation, for
was altogether innocent, and at th
time,' he continued with a bitter smil
'I yet be-ieved in God. When ?
hope became exstinct, I began ma
ly to rave, but finally settled dov
utterly crushed and callous. It was
fearful state-for weeks together, ?
my past life seemed a complete blan
at most I still remembered my nam
This, sir, is laterally true : Siberia
a very.peculiar place.'
The poor fellow had sunk dovt
upon a bench, his bands rested pov
erless in his lap. I never have yee
a face so utterly worn and par
stricken. After a while he continued
'Ten years had thus passed away
at least, I was told so-I had lon
ceased to count the days of my misorj
For what purpose should I have don
so ?
'I had. sunk so low that I felt n
pity even for my terrible conditio!
One day I was brought before th
Inspector, together with some of m
companions. This official informe
ns that ?ve badi been pardoned o
condition of becoming colonists i
New Russia. The mercy of the .Cza
would assign to each of us a place c
residence, a trade, and a l?wfi
wife, who would be sJso. a pavdone
convict. We must of course, in ad
dition, be converted to the orthpdo:
Greek Church. This latter stipula
Lion did but little concern . us. Wi
readily accepted the conditions, fo
the people are glad of leaving Siberia
no matter whither, even . to mee
death itself. And had we? not beet
pardoned ? Alexander Nikolajewitcl
is a gracious lord. In Siberia th?
mines are over-crowded, and in S o uti
Rusia the eteppes are empty ! Oh
be is a philanthropist ! dec us e
delicias generis humani 1 But per
tiaps^jwrougjiim.. J#e. ente.reJjQ'poi
Dur long journey, and vproceedec
slowly sOutn-west. Tri" about eight
months we reached Mohilew. Here
we were only kept in easy confine
ment, and above all, brought undei
the influence of the pope. This . was
% rapid proceeding. One morning we
were driven together into a large
room, about one hundred men, and
in equal humber of women. Present?
ly the priest entered ; a powerful and
lirty fellow, who appeared to have
invigorated himself for his holy work
with a considerable dose of gin, for
we could smell it at least ten paces
?ff, and he bad"1 some difficulty in
keeping upon n??jegs.
"'You ragmuffins I' he stammered ;
you vermin of humanity 1 you are to
become. Orthodox Christians; but
surely I shall, not take much trouble
with you. For what do you think I
jet per head ? ; Ten copeks, you ver?
ain ! ten popeks per head. Who will
i>e a missionary at such pay ? I cer?
tainly do it to-day-for the last time !
[ndeed, our good father Alexander
tfikolajewitch.cai?sed one rouble to be
set in the tariST; but that rascal, the
lirector, pockets ninety copeks, and
eaves only ten for me. To-day, how?
ever, I have undertaken your conver?
sion, because I am told there are
nauy of yon. Now listen ! you \ are
low Catholics, Protestants, Jews I
That is sad mistake ; for every Jew
is a blood-sucker, every Protestant a
iog, and every Catholics pig. Such
is their lot in life-bat after death ?
carrion; my. good people, carrion !
And will Christ have mercy on them
it the last day ? Yerily no ! He will
not dream of such a thing ! And un?
til then ? Hell fire ! < Therefore, good
people, why should you . suffer such
torments ? Be converted ! Those
who agree to become Orthodox
christians, keep silent ; those who
.lemur, receive the knout and go back
to Siberia. Wherefore, my dear
crothers and sisters, I ask, will you
i>ecorae Orthodox Christians ?'
'We remained silent.
"'Weir, continued the priest,
now pay attention 1 Those who are
?lready Christians need only to lift
ip the right hand, and repeat after
ne the creed. That will soon be j
ioue. But with the damned Jews j
)ne has always a special trouble-the
lews I must first baptise. Jews,
5tep forward !-the other vermin can
remain where they now are.' In this j
solemn manner the ceremony was |
jrought to a conclusion.
"On the day following," M. Wale- j
.ian continued, "the secoud act was
performed : the selection of a trade.
This act was as spontaneous as our
.eligious conversion ; only, some in
lividual regard became here indis?
pensable. Three young Govern
nent officials were deputed to record
>ur wishes, and to comply with them
is far as the exigencies of the case
idmitted. The official before whom
[ appeared was very juvenile,
rhough externally very polished, he
was in reality a frightfully coarse and i
?ruel youth, without a spark of human !
eeling, so far a* we were concerned, j
We afforded him no small amount
merriment. This youth inquired Ci
fully concerning our wishes, and
variably ordered the very opposi
Among us was a noble lady fr
Poland, of veiy ancient lineage, vi
feeble and miserable, whose nt
helplessness might well -inspire 1
most callous heart with respect s
compassion. The lady was too ?
to be married to one of the 'fore
ones/ and was therefore asked
state what kind of occupation she i
sired. She entreated to be emploi
in some school for daughters of m
tary officers, there being a demand
such service ; but the young gent
mau ordered her to go as iaundn
to the barracks at Mohilew ! .
aged Jew had been sent to Sibe
tor having smuggled prohibited boc
across the frontiers. He had be
the owner of a printing estabiishme
and was well acquainted with t
business. 'Could he not be employ
in one of the Imperial printing office
aud if possible/ urged the aged mi
'be permitted to reside in a pla
where a few or no Jews lived V ]
had under compulsion changed 1
religion ; to which he was yet f
quently attached, and trembled at t
thought that his former co-religic
ists would none the less avoid him
an apostate. The young official not
down bis request, and made him
police agent at Miaskowka, a sm
town in the government district
Podolien, 4*lmost exclusively inhab
ed by Jews. Another, a former scoo*
master, in the last stages of consum
tion, begged on his knees to be p<
mitted to die quietly in some count
village. 'That is certainly a mode
request!' observed this worthle
youth ; and sent him as a waiter
a hospital. Need I tell how I fared
Being misled, like the re6t, by tl
hypocritical air and seeming conce:
of this rascal, I made known to hi
ray.desire to obtain the post of unde
steward at some remote Crown estati
where I might have as little inte
course as possible with my fellow
men. And thus, sir, I became tl
keepar of the small inn on a muc
frequented highway !"
The unfortunate man arose suddei
ly, and paced the room in a state <
great excitement.
"But now comes the best of all,
he exclaimed, with a desperate effoi
-"the last act, the choice of a wife.
Again an internal struggle overpow
ered the unhappy narrator-a sudde
and heavy tear rolled down his can
worn cheek, evidently caused by th
remembrance of this abominable
transaction. "It was a terrible ordeal,
he 6aid. "Sir, sir/' he contiuue
after a momentary pause, "since th
sun has risen in our horizon, he hat
shone on many a cruel game whici
the mighty of the earth have playei
with the helpless, but a more aborai
nable farce has ever been enacte<
than the one I am now relating-tb
manner in which we unfortunate peo
pie were coupled together. In nr
youth I read how' Carrier at Nantes
murdered the Ro val isis ; how hi
caused the first best man to be tiec
with a rope to a woman, and carriec
down the Loire in a boat. In th<
middle of the riv?r a trap-door wa?
suddenly .opened, and the unfortunate
couple-- disappeared in. the waves
But that monster was an angel com
parediwith the officials of the 'Czar :
and these republican marriages were
a benevolent act in comparrison with
those we were forced to conclude,
At Nantes; the victims were tied to?
gether for a mutual death ; we for oui
mutual lives ! ... On a subse?
quent morning we were once more
usn ur ed into the room where our con?
version had taken place. There were
present about thirty men and an
equal number of iwornen. Together
with tile latter entered the official
who had so considerately ordered our
lot as regards a livelihood.
;3 'Ladies an^entlerxfe^/: he couv
menced with a nasal twang, 'his
Majesty bas graciously pardoned you,
and desires to see you all happy.
Now, the lonely man is seldom a hap?
py man ; and hence you are to-marry.
Every gentleman is. free to select a
partner, provided of ^course the lady
accepts the choice. And in order
that none of you gentlemen may_ he
placed'iii the" invidious position of
having to select a p?rtner unworthy
of-him, supreme benevolence, has
ordered that an "adequate number^ of
ladies, partly from penal settlements
and partly from houses of correction,
should be now offered you. > As his
Majesty's solicitude/for your wel?
fare has already assigned you an
occupation, you may now follow un?
hesitatingly the promptings of your
own hearts in the choice of a . wife.
Ladies and gentlenien,\ yours is the
happy privilege to realize the dream
of a purely socialistic marriage.
Make, then, your selection without
delay ; and as "all gentiine love is in?
stantaneous, sudden as a lightning
flash, and soft as the breezes of
spring''-to use the words of our
poet Lermontoff-I consider one hour
sufficient. Bear also iii mind that
marriages are ratified in heaven, and
trust implicitly to your own heart. I
offer you before hand, ladies and gen?
tlemen, my congratulations/
"After this address,- the young
rascal placed his watch in front of!
him on thc table, sat down and grin-1
ned maliciously at our helpless cou- j
ditiou. The full measure of 6corn I
implied in this speech but few of us
entirely realized, tor wc were in
truth a curious assembly'. The most
extravagant imagination ?could hardly
picture more glariug contrasts ! Side
by side wi iii the bestial ! Bessarabian
herdsman, who in a . fit of in?
toxication had slain thc whole of
his family, stood the highly cultivated
professor from Wilna, whom the love
of his country and of freedom had
consigned to the mines of Siberia ;
the most desperate thief and shop?
lifter from Moscow, and; the Polish
nobleman who at the hciight of his
misfortunes still regarded his honour
as the most precious treasure, tho ex- j
professor from Charkow, and the j
Cossac-robber from the Don ; the ?
forger from Odessa, &c.i On my own [
right hand stood a thief and deserter j
from Lipkaay, and on the left a j
Baschkire, who had been pardoned at
the foot of the gallows, though he
had once assisted in roasting alive a
Jewish family in a village inn. ?
madley assorted medley of human
beings ! And the women ! The dis?
solute female gladly released from the
house of correction, because she still
more depraved her already degraded
companions, associated with the un?
fortunate Polish lady, whose pure
mind had never been poisned by a
vulgar word, and whose quiet happi?
ness had not been disturbed by any
prospect of misfortune, until a single
letter, OL act of charity to an exiled
countryman, brought her into misery.
Pressing against the young girl whose
sole offence consisted in being the
unfortunate offspring of a mother sent
to Siberia, might be seen the infa?
mous hag who had habitually decoyed
young girls to niin, in whose soul
every spark of womanhood had long
been extinguished. And these peo?
ple were .called upon to marry ; and
one hour was granted them in which
to become acquainted and assorted 1
Sir, you will now. perhaps compre?
hend my emotion in relating this
shocking business !
"I consider it the most shocking
and at the same time the most curi?
ous outrage which has ever been com?
mitted." Tue "forced" man paused,
a deadly pallor suffused his counte?
nance, and his agitation was great.
The young hostess appeared perfectly
stunned, whilst Reb .Russian, the
coachman, bent his head in evident
compassion.
After a white M. - Walerian con?
tinued in a calmer mood. * "It must
certainly have been an entertaining
spectacle to notice. the behavior of
this ill-assorted people at that trying
hour. Even the barefaced monster
on his raised dais betrayed a feverish
excitement : ht wcjld suddenly jump
from his chair, and again recline,
playing the while nervously with his
fingers. I am hardly able to describe
the details, being not altogether un?
biased at this dreadful hour.
"1 only know we stood at first in
two distinct groups, and for the first
few moments after the official an?
nouncement, not a glance was ex?
changed between the two sexes,
much less a word spoken. A deep
silence reigned in the room, a death?
like stillness, varied only by an oc?
casional deep sigh, or a nervous
movement. The minutes passed,
certainly not many, but they seemed
to me an eternity 1
"Suddenly a loud hoarse voice ex?
claimed, 'Up, my lads ! here aro some
very pretty mates V We all recog?
nized the notorious thcif from Mos?
cow, a haggard withered fellow, with
the ugliest face I ever beheld. He
crossed over to the women and ex?
amined in his way which would be
the most desirable partner. Here he
received an indignant push, and there
an impudent all uring glance. Others,
again-the better part-recoiled from
the approaching of the brute. He
was followed by the Baschkire, who
like a clumsy beast of prey drew
nigh, muttering incoherently. 'I will
have a fat woman, the fattest among
them., From his approach even the
ugliest and most impudent instinct?
ively recoiled-this wooer was really
too hideous, at best only suited to a
monkey.. The third in order , who
came forward was the Dcn-C.ossac, a
pretty slender youth.. An impudent
lass jauntily met.him and fell on his
neck ; but he pushed hier aside, and
walked towards the girl who had
murdered her childe. The- discarded
feraale^muttered some insulting words,
and hung the next moment on my
own neck. * I shook her off, and she :
repeated the attempt with my neigh-11
bor, and again unsuccessfully.:
'Her example became contagious ; <
presently the more shameless of the ?
women made an outslaught on the ?
men. Ten minutes later the scene
had changed. In thc centre of the i
room stood a number of men and j
women engaged in eager negotiation <
-shouting and scouldiug. ??. The par- i
ties who had already agreed%etired 'i
to the window-niches, and here and
there a man pulled : an unfortunate !
woman, making desperate efforts to ?
escape from him. The females who )
yet retained a spark of womanhood i
crept into a corner of the room ; and i
in another recess were three of us- 3
the ex-professor, Count S., aud my- :
self.. We had instinctinctively come '
together, watching with painful emo- <
tion this frantic spectacle, not incliu* i
ed participate in it. To J me at
least the thought of selecting a wife :
here never occurred. 1
4 'Another half an hour at your dis- i
posai, ladies and gentlemen,7 exclaim- '
ed our official tormentor; 'twenty '
minutes-yet fifteen minutes !' :
I stood as if* rooted to the ground, '
my knees trembled, my agitation in?
creased, but 1 remained motionless.
Indeed, as often as I heard the un- ]
pleasant voice of the official, the
blood rushed to my head, but 1 ad?
vanced not one step. My excite- 1
ment increased-profound disgust, ;
bitter despair-the wildest indigna- '
tion which perhaps ever pierced a i
poor human heart. 'No,' I said ; 'I 1
must assert the dignity of my man- :
hood !; I was determined not to make 1
the selection of a wife under the eyes .
of this man. Another impulse I 1
could hardly suppress-viz.: to throw 1
myself upon this ^imperial delegate 1
and strangle him. And if I finally 1
abstained from an act of violence, it ?
was because I yet loved life, and
wished not to end it on the gallows. 1
Sir/ continued M. Walerian, 'thc 1
source of great misery on earth is :
this overpowering instinct of self- 1
preservation ; without it I should be .
freed this day from all my misery.
Thus I stood, so to speak, at bay in !
my corner, using all my efforts to
subdue the evil spirit within me. My
looks most probably betrayed me- '
for when my eyes met those of the
official, I noticed an involuntary
shudder." A moment afterwards he
regarded me with a sly and mal ig- 1
nant glance. I turned aside aud
closed my eyes on this hanassiug
scene.
' 'Yet five minutes ladies, and gen?
tlemen I Those as - yet undecided
must speed themselves, and unbur?
den their heart, or I shall be compell?
ed by virtue of my office to tie them
together. And although I shall do
so conscientiously, and to the best of
ray knowledge, there is this risk
that you engage in a marriage of
mere convenience, instead of one of
free choice and inclination.7
'Though my agitation reached its
climax, I made no move. J consid?
ered myself an accomplice in this dis?
graceful outrage, if I within the allot?
ted five minutes declared my heart
and made a choice. . But another
thought flashed across my mind : 'I
may still be able to prevent the worst.
Who knows with whom that rascal
may couple me if I remain altogether
passive? Choose for yourself!'-I
I made a step 'orward-a m?6t seem?
ed before ray eyes-my heartbeat
wildly-I .staggered, L?ought figures
in order to distinguish and recognize
myself.
'Sir, 'exclaimed the narrator with
a sudden yell, 'what scenes did I see
there ? I am no coward, but I-I
dare not venture to speak of it. Thus
I moved forward ; hardly two min?
utes passed, but days would not suf?
fice to relate what passed during these
terrible moments through my heart
and brain. I noticed in a corner a faint?
ing woman, a young and delicate ere
ture. 1 learnt afterwards that she was
an orphan child, born of a dissolute
woman in a penal settlement. A
coarse fellow with cunning eves beet
over her, endeavoring to raise her
from the ground. I suddenly pounc?
ed upon the fellow,struck him a heavy
blow, and carried the unconscious
woman away as if a mere child. I
determined to defend her to the last.
But no rescue was attempted, though
the forger shook his fists at mc, but
had seemingly not the courage to ap?
proach nearer. Gazing about him,
another female embraced him, a re?
pulsive woman. He looked at. her
somewhat abashed, but soon submit?
ted to her caresses.
' 'Ladies and gentlemen 1 the allot?
ted hour has passed,' said the official.
'I must beg the parties to come for?
ward and make known to me their
choice. . This may be repugnant to
some of you, but my duties prescribe
it. I especially request the gentle?
men in yonder coiner to advance'
pointing to myself and the forger. I
clenched my fists involuntary, but
stepped forward with the fainting
woman.t 'Cossacks, keep your 'Kant
schu' in readiness,' said the official to
the guard which surrounded him.
Turning first to me, he said : 'And
are you, sir, resolved to carry the
woman you now hold in your arms,
not only in this roora, but through
life V I nodded assent. 'And. what
have you to say, damsel ? The poor
creature was as yet unconscious.
'Shejs in a swoon,' I replied. 'In
that case Lam sorry,' continued the
official, 'to have to refuse in his
Majesty's name my consent to your
union. In the interests of humanity,
I require .an audible yes from all
parties. 1 have watched attentively
the whole proceedings/ contiued the
official-'not from mere curiosity, but
partly as a duty, and partly out of
pure sympathy-and I can assure you,
sir, without disparagement to your
claims, that the choice of the young
lady you now hold in your arms fell
not upon you, but upon the gentle?
man yonder/ pointing to the forger,
'lt was probably the excess of happi?
ness at this selection ; which caused
her fainting. For you there is wait?
ing an adequate recompense-that
ripe, desirable beauty who now only
reluctantly holds the -arm of your
rival. Therefore, changez, Messie?
urs!' 'Scoundrel !'I exclaimed, and
advanced to seize him. But ero I
could lay bold of Him, a fearful blow
un my head stretched" me stunned
und-bleeding to the ground. When
I had somewhat recovered, our mar?
riage procession was in progress of
formation. . The woman whom the
official Ha'd assigned to me ' tfnelt at
ray side, bathing ni y head; endcavor
mg'to revive roe? 'I like you/ she
observed, 'and will treat von well/
3he raised me to my feet,.placed her
arm iu mine, and pushed me in the
ranks of the procession, which moved
slowly towards two church.- On our
road a heavy hand seized me sudden?
ly by the collar. 'Brother/ grunted
a coarse voice in my ear, 'your stout
woman takes my fancy. Will yon
change with me ? Mine is certainly
less corpulent, but younger ia years/
.It was the man behind mo-the j
Baschkire. The female whom lie j
dragged along Was a lean, ugly, dark
complexioned woman swooning or
near a swoon. An expression of un- j
utterable despair overspread her fea- \
tures, rendering them, if possible yet j
more ugly. 'A woman who can suf- j
fer so intensely as this one uuques
tiouably does, cannot be without a
heart-is not altogether depraved, no |
matter what cause brought her here/ j
These- reflections determined me. |
'She is preferable to thc woman at my
side. Done!' 1 whispered to the
Baschkire. Just crossing the thres?
hold of the church, a momentary j
pause ensued, during which we effect?
ed the exchange ; not without a mur?
mur, however, on the. part of my in?
tended wife. But the Baschkire
kept her quiet ; and a closer inspec-1
tjon of her new partner teemed to
satisfy her. Thc poor woman I led j
forward seemed hardly aware of the |
exchange, she was so entirely absorb?
ed in her grief. We were married.
Ibo official only afterwards became
aware of what had happened, but
could not now undo it. But I had to j
suiter for it-terrible was the puhish
tnent.'
Not another word was uttered by
the unfortunate man. Quite over?
come by the recital of his cruel fate,
he suddenly ai ose and left the house.
On accouut of the approach of the
Jewish Sabbath, my coachman urged
on our journey. Halfan hour later,
we passed the lonely and dessolate
hostelry of poor M. Walerian, . the
exile of Siberia, who owed so much
to imperial clemency.-F. A. S., in
Belgravia.
There is no true repentance without
reformation of life.
Mr. Beecher's Farm
DESCRIBED BT MARK TWAIN.
Mark Twain bas written of Mr.
Beecher's farm on the Hudson river
as follows:-Mr. Beecher's farm con?
sists of thirty-six acres, and is carried
on on scientific priciples. He never
pats io a plant or a crop without consult?
ing his book. He ploughs, and reaps,
and digs, and sows, accordiog to the
beat authorities, and the authorities cost
him more than the other farming im?
plements do. As soon as the library
ia complete the farm will be a profitable
investment. But book farming hus its
drawbacks. Upoa one occasion, when
it seemed morally certain that the
hay ought to be cut, lae hay book
could not be found, and before it
was found it was too late, and tho hay
! was ail spoiled. Mr. Beecher raises
some of the best crops of wheat in the
I country, but the unravoor&ble diaerence
j between the cost of"produc"mg it and its
! market value after its produced, has in
j terfered considerably with its success
j as a commercial enterprise. His spe
I cial weaknesss is hogs, however. He
I considers hogs the best game a farm
j produces. He buys the orgioal pig fer
$1 50, and feeds him $40 worth of
' com, oad then sells him for about ?9.
I This is the only crop he ever makes
I any money on. He loses on the corn,
j but he makes ?7.50 on the hog. Hs
docs not mind this, because he never
expects to make anything on cern,
j And, any way it turns out be has the
excitement of raising the hog, whether
he gets thc worth of him or not. His
I strawberries would be a comfortable
j success if tfii robins would eat turnips
I but they won't and hence the difficulty.
j One of Mr. Beecher's most harassiog
difficulties in his farming operations
I comes of the close resemblance of the dif?
ferent seeds and plants to ...h other.
Two years ago his farsightednet^ warned
j him that there was going to be ? scarcity
i of watermelons, and therefore he put in a
crop of twenty-seven acres of that fruit.
But when they came up they turned
out to be pumpkins, and a dead loss was
the consequence. Sometimes a portion
of his crops goes into the ground the
most promising sweet potatoes, and
come up the meanest carrots-though I
never heard him express it just in that
way. When ho bought bis farm he
! found one egg in every hen's nest on
! the place. He said that was just the
j reason so many farmers failed ; they
scattered their forces too much. Con?
centration was the idea. So ho gath?
ered those .eggs together, and put
them all under one experienced old
hen. That hen roosted over that con?
tract night and day for eleven weeks,
under the personal supervision of Mr.
Beecher nimself but she could not
'phase' these eggs Why? Because
they were those infamous porcelain
thiogs which are used by ingenious and
fradulent farmers as .'nest eggs.' But
perhaps Mr. Beecher's most disastrous
experience was the time be tried to
rai?e an immense crop of dried apples.
He planted ?1,500 worth, but never
one of them sprouted. He has never
been able to understand to this day what
was the matter with those apples.
Mr. Beecher's farm is not a triumph.
It would be easier on him if he worked
it on shares with some one, but he can?
not fin<|.any.hcjdytwhoxs,wilj,ipg to stand
half the expense, and not many that
are able." Still persistence in any case
is'bound to "succeed. He was a very
inferior farmer when he. first began,
but a prolonged and unSichiog assult
upon his agricultural difficulties has had ;
its effect at last, and he is now fast ris?
ing from affluence to poverty
How Edison Made a Bug.
A correspondent tells the following
story of Edison : One of my letters
spoke of the possibility of utilizing the
present gas pipes by running the elec?
tric wires through them. 'How is this
wonderful Edison going to get his wires
through the pipes, ? . should, like to
know T asked an . unbeliever. ? Edison
thought it over.
.Why, see here, .Johnson !' he ex?
claimed tboText'morning, Til make a
bug that will drag a "wire through all
tbe pipes in New York.'
'Make a bug V said Johnson, 'what
ia the world are you talking about V.
'Well, I'll make a bug,'said Edison ;
'an iron bug that will go where you
seDd it and drag a wire after it.'
His assistants drew around while he
described hts coming or rather, bis
going-bag. Next day he hatched ' a
rude specimen of that insect as large as
? coat button. And it stood out on
the table and crawled.
It was constructed thus : A minute
electro-mag?et carried behind it a fin
insulated wire, the armature of the
magnet operating a friction pawl. Now,
observe-every time the circuit is close
ed through the magnet the armature is
attracted, the pawl clutches the sides of
the gas pipe with its claws, aud the
magnet behind is drawn toward the
amature about a sixteenth of an inch.
When thc circuit is open, the armature '<
reaches forward ready to take a second
step. Thus, at every closing of the
circuit the little magnet advances one
step and drags foward the insulated
wire. This description will be perhaps
incomprehensible to non experts, but
more people know something about elec?
tricity than they formerly did ; and
every telegraph operator will under?
stand how this iron bug reaches out its
armature and claws and crawls around
thc gas pipe.
'Now, don't misunderstand this,' said !
Edison ; 'it isn't at all likely it will
ever bc used to thread gas-pipes ; I
have made it merely (or fun-just to
show that I can moke a first-rate bug
that will crawl around all by himself.
? shan't make a cockroach, for there is
no necessity fer any more but- By
the way I moy make a toy lightning
bug some time. He could be made to
lighten easy enough. I wonder if he
could be made to fly.'
--.VB* . ? ? ? iSL. m -
There is a story of Solomou not con?
tained in thc 'Book of Kings.' Two of
his court damsels had a row as to pre?
cedence. Solomon looked kindly ?and
said. 'Let the oldest go first/ and the
two damsels embraced and went in to- f
gcther with entwined arms. j
Ancient Chinese Coffins.
A recent number of the Celestial - f??
Empire, referriug to a discovery of some >
ancient graves near Shanghai,.,gives, ?
says Natut e't an interesting account ? ot ^
Chinese burial in former times. A :
man of means purchased his coffin when
he reached the age of forty. ;Ho
would then have it painted three times 1
every year with a species of varnish^-S^i
mixed with pulverized porcelain-?
composition which resembled a silicate . ^
paint or enamel. The process by
which this varnish was made bas now
been lest to the Chinese. Each coating \ |
of this paint was cf some thickness and
when dried had a metallic firmness re?
sembling enamel, ?requeut coats of
this, if thc owner, lived long, caused the
coffin to assume the apperaace of a sar?
cophagus, with a foot or more io thick?
ness cf thia hard-stone-like shell.
After death the veins and the cavities .-'S.
of the stomach were filled withe quick?
silver, fer the purpose cf preserving the
body. A piece of jade would then be". :<
placed is euch nostril and ear/ and in
one baud while a pelee of bar silver . ;
would be pkced in the other hand.
The body, thus prepared was placed on
a layer of mercury within the coffin --^f
thc latter was sealed and the whole theo Z^T
committed to its last restiog-place.
When some of these saarcophagi were ^
opened after the lapse of centuries, the
bodies were found io a wonderful state v i
of preservation ; but they crumbled to
dust on exposure to the air. The*
writer weil observes that the : employ- ?fsp
ment of mercury by the j3hioese of
past dynasties for the purpose of pre?
serving bodies ought to form aa
interesting subject for consideraron and
discussion in conn?ctMia with ?he histo?
ry of embalming^and mumory making/
? 3'
The Inflexible in Action.
'?-'.ii
_ -. m
? y
The foremost ship in the British
oavy was present. It was posted in:- " ;^
the angle formed by the obtruding city rP.B.
and the coast. Thus it lay uoder1T~~~^
concentrated fire, which it seemed to ^
despise. They call it the Inflexible, /
and aa it is the most- powerful fighting
ship built by the British abrief descrip
tion may not be amiss. Imagine a
floating castle 110 feet long and 75 feet
wide, rising 10 feet out of water* and
having above that two round tnrv
rets planted diagonally at its opposite ^
corners. Imagine this castle and "its j i
turrets heavily plated with armor, each
turret having two 80-ton guns. Cou- ;J
ceive th ese g uns capable of. firing, lall 3\
four together, at an enemy ahead,
astern or on either beam, and in pairs -~T.%
toward every poiDt of the. compass.. ;..
Attached to this rectangular armored ;
castle, but completely submerged,.-every
part being six or seven feet:., under - .;
water, there is a hull of ordinary form "3
with a powerful ram bow, .with- twjnw-^-r^
screws and a submerged rudder and
helm. It is all incased in a wooden ..-?'--.'?]
structure that gives it seaworthiness, . ;
speed aud shapeliness. The armor, is
two feet thick. , Each gun . throws a
projectile weighing .1,760 > pounds.
Each turret, weighing 750' tons, is -
turned by hydraulic macbiueryWthe . :
horse power is 3,0l0. When a gu^~^-r
is fired the muzzle is turned over "and
down into the ?eek below,, where it 4s
loaded with ease ; then.it is raised up; upf - '..
ttl in proper positioo for ajro?bg.^/Th?
cost of this monster: approximates.* &Z??..
250,000. v'jfefM?fe fla
NEWS AND"GO??fR;.i?v
If you feel an ill-will toward any per?
son, go and do-bim a favor, and your
ill feeling will vanish at once.. f-?? M
Bed, used on a railway, signifies
danger, and says, .'stop/ .It.is the-same
thing displayed OD a man's nose. -
Thai only can with propriety-'be*
styled reSoement which, by strengthen-"
ing the intellect, purifies the inva?ers/ ;
4 What is the usc cf tryin?" to^Jie ^
about it so clumsily ? says thj^;Tnagis
trate benevolently; 'havouT you1 a
lawyer?'^ " - - . ^ ^*i>*[A< ;
Wc appreciate no pleasure un??ls^?'
are occasionally deprived of them.
Restraint is the golden rale of enjoy?
ment
j Whenever we drink too deeply "of
pleasure, we find a sedinient at..tbei.b.ot--'
tom of the cup, which emb?ttep ^he :
draught we have quaffed with-so much:
avidity.
Waiter to member of. Legislature-'
'Will you have some" desert Y Member
to waiter-'No, thank you; Til take "a
piece of pie.-Cincinnati Enquirer.
Break, break, break,
On the cold gray stone3, O sea !
But the cash I've spent on rock and rye'
Will never cooie back to me. .
What is the difference between a
honeycomb and a honeymoon? .A
honeycomb consists in a number of
small cells, while a honeymoon is ono
great sell. >...
The most favorable thing about oar .. "?
State Dominations and the coming cam- -
paign, is that no one has written any
poetry about chem.. . .A , few poems
would throw a damper o ver thc whole
affair.
The New York World happily ob
serves that 'the Independent strength
in the South can be accurately meas
ured by the number of Federal offices
to be filled aud the amount of scrub?
women's money to be spent/
A youngster asked his mother for
bread and jam, and she, wishing to
break him of the habit,, replied, 'When
1 was your age I couldn't get anything
to eat between meals/ *But you <f?d
Dot have a nice good ma like me, did
you V That settled it-bc won.
Piety is not for Sundays only but. for* < '.'
all days ; spirituality of mind is not ap~
propriato to one set of actions and an * rsl!
impertinence and intrusion with refer?
ence to others, but, like the act of
breathing, like the. circulation of the
blood, like the silent growth of the
stature, a process that may be going on
stimultaneously with all our actions,
when we are busiest as. when we arc
idlest ; in the church, in thc world ; in
solitude, in society; in our grief and
in our gladness;, in our toil and m : our '
rest ; sleeping ; by day, by night>r-:
amid ali the engagements: andV^^
5?s